10 Easy DIYs To Target Dark Circles, Acne & Dull Skin

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If splurging on skincare isn’t your top priority right now, don’t worry we got you, boo. The truth is, there are some incredible DIYs out there that’ll help smooth, brighten and exfoliate your skin, leaving you with a radiant glow just as dewy as a 14-step K-Beauty routine. Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up 10 of our fave skincare DIYs that’ll come through for you every single time. Plus, they’re all cheap and easy to make – most only involve two to three kitchen ingredients. You can thank us later…

1. To Detox Your Pores

If you’re looking to nix pores, you’ll love this 1-ingredient skincare hack using… Egg whites – yup, we’re serious! They’ve been used in skincare for centuries thanks to their deep cleansing properties that’ll help tighten and degunk your pores. In fact, just one egg is packed with 3.6 grams of protein, meaning it also helps strengthen the skin and protect against damaging free radicals.

The final result? Tightened pores and softer, smoother skin in 15 minutes! We love to do this before an event, or you know, before an important video call.

Ingredients:
1 egg

What to do: Crack 1 egg in a bowl and separate the yolk, so only the egg white remains. Whisk the egg white using a fork or whisk until it thickens slightly. Apply it to cleansed skin, then wash it off once it dries (around 15 minutes) with lukewarm water. If you have sensitive skin or it feels like it’s stinging, wash it off sooner. Follow with your fave moisturizer.

2. For Supple Skin

Okay, so we’re not saying this will turn back the clock, but over time, this face mask can help to soften the appearance of fine lines, while short-term, it’ll smooth and nourish your skin. The yogurt contains hydrating and exfoliating lactic acid, while banana packs hydrating potassium and vitamin A, which exfoliates and smooths tired skin.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of yogurt
1/2 a ripe banana
1 teaspoon of raw honey (not essential but super hydrating and has anti-inflammatory properties).

What to do: Mash the banana to a smooth consistency, then add in the yogurt and honey – you can also chuck it all in a blender if you prefer. Leave the mix in the fridge to chill – the cool temperature will feel soothing and refreshing. Spread the mix all over your face and neck and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

3. For Glowing Radiant Skin

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This papaya and honey mask is one of our all-time faves as it brightens and hydrates, all the while improving skin tone and texture, leaving your skin glowy AF. It’s also great for blemish-prone skin as it can help reduce inflammation and fight acne bacteria.

Ingredients:
2 or 3 slices of papaya
1 tablespoon of raw honey

What to do: Blend the papaya until it creates a smooth mixture, then add the honey to a bowl and mix well. Apply the mask onto cleansed skin and leave it on for 10 minutes. Wash with warm water and follow with your fave moisturizer.

4. To Soothe Maskne

Whenever we’re hit with maskne, we turn to this oat, honey, and turmeric mask. Oats alone are a rich source of soothing amino acids that fight inflammation in the skin. Plus, because they contain saponins, they’ll gently exfoliate and absorb excess oil, decreasing the likelihood of another maskne flare-up. Turmeric has powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to ward off acne bacteria and calm existing pimples. Finally, honey – our all-time fave DIY ingredient – helps draw moisture into the skin and once again, has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial powers. It’s the ultimate triple threat.

Ingredients
1/2 cup oats
1.5 tsp turmeric powder
4 tablespoons honey
Water

What to do: Gently cook the oats with the same amount of water until soft (around five mins), then leave to cool for 20 minutes. Stir in turmeric and honey. Using a brush or your fingers, apply the mask to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow with a hydrating moisturizer.

5. To Brighten Dark Circles

If you’ve run out of eye cream, start brewing this home remedy instead. Yes, we’re referring to green tea as it’s packed with caffeine, which can help shrink the blood vessels in your under eyes, reducing inflammation in the veins. The added cooling effect will also help reduce any morning puffiness. It’s the ultimate wake-up call!

What to do: Simply place green tea bags (brewed and then chilled in the fridge) under your eyes. To amp up the routine, we like to mix brewed green tea leaves with a little Vaseline. Once again, chill the mixture, then let it sit underneath your eyes for up to 20 minutes and rinse with cool water.

6. To Cleanse & Remove Makeup 

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Tired of restocking your cabinet with micellar water? Try this oil-cleanser DIY. The oil combo will help to melt away makeup and grime while delivering a surge of hydration to soften and plump your skin. All three oils also boast a long list of skin-saving antioxidants, including vitamin E and K, that’ll brighten and protect your skin from aging free radicals. We recommend this DIY as the first step of a double cleansing routine, so always follow with a water-based cleanser to ensure you wash away any oil residue on your skin.

Ingredients:
Coconut oil
Sweet almond oil
Vitamin E oil

Tip: Look for cold-pressed, organic oils, as these will retain the best skin care benefits.

What to do: Combine 4 tablespoons of coconut oil, 3 teaspoons of sweet almond oil, and 2 teaspoons of Vitamin E oil in a bowl. Once combined, use a funnel to pour the oil into a glass bottle. To use gentle massage two to three pumps (or about half a tablespoon) of the oil onto your face, then wipe away with a muslin cloth or cotton pad, and rinse with water. Follow with a gentle water-based cleanser to remove every last trace of makeup – think of it as the first step of your double cleanse.

6. For Blemish-Prone Skin

What makes this DIY SO damn good is its ingredient list; kefir, tomato, and honey. Each ingredient is a skincare savior in its own right. Kefir helps restore your skin’s microbiome, thereby strengthening your skin’s defensive barrier, improving its ability to ward off acne-inducing bacteria and retain essential hydration, vitamins, and nutrients. We’ve already mentioned why we’re obsessed with honey. Finally, tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that fights skin-damaging free radicals while also helping to brighten the appearance of post-pimple marks.

Ingredients:
½ medium ripe tomato
1 tbsp of organic kefir
1 tsp of raw organic honey

What to do: Cut the tomato in half and peel off the skin, then use a fork to mash the tomato. Mix 1 tablespoon of kefir into the bowl and 1 teaspoon of honey until the mixture is well combined. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for ten minutes. Wash off with warm water and follow with your fave moisturizer.

7. To Hydrate Dry, Dull Skin

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If you’re experiencing dryness or flakey skin, this DIY is about to come to your rescue. How can we be so sure? First up, it features camelia seed oil, which is super hydrating as its molecular weight is almost identical to your skin, allowing it to be absorbed quickly. Sea buckthorn berry oil is bursting with fatty acids and omegas to nourish, heal, reduce scarring, and strengthen the skin. Plus, rose oil (AKA our holy grail) will not only brighten but also contains a powerful antiseptic that can help calm breakouts.

60 ml of camellia seed oil
10 ml of sea buckthorn berry oil
5 ml of rose oil

What to do: Add all ingredients into a glass bottle and mix well. To apply, warm the oil in the palms of your hands and massage gently onto your skin in upwards motions. To sculpt, we like to do a DIY lymphatic drainage massage.

8. To Brighten & Restore Uneven Tone

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The key ingredient in this brightening DIY is pineapple, which contains the fruit enzyme bromelain, which helps to remove dead skin cells that clog your pores and make your skin appear dull. It’s also a natural source of vitamin C, which protects against damaging free radicals. The raw oats will work as a natural anti-inflammatory, and just like honey, they’re a natural humectant, so the scrub will draw moisture back into the skin.

Ingredients:

2-3 slices of fresh pineapple
1 tablespoon of raw oats
1 teaspoon of raw honey

What to do: Blend the pineapple until it creates a smooth mixture, then add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix well. Apply the scrub onto cleansed skin, gently massage the scrub in circular motions onto your face, and leave on for a few minutes. Wash with warm water and follow with your fave moisturizer.

9. For Tired Eyes, Pores & Puffy Skin

Cryotherapy facials are super popular RN, but they can also be hella expensive. This DIY will save you $$$ all the while rejuvenating tired, puffy skin; plus, it’ll even help tighten your pores. With that said, don’t give yourself a DIY ice facial (tempting, we know!), as it’s such a powerful treatment it could actually damage the capillaries if it’s done too frequently.

What to do: All you have to do is fill a large bowl with ice and then submerge the ice cubes in water. Scoop the water into your hands and splash it onto your face for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

10. To Soothe & Combat Pimples

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This DIY is another easy-peasy slam-dunk – all you need is a ripe banana. What you may not know is bananas contain so many anti-inflammatories like vitamin A, zinc, and manganese, which are great for soothing existing pimples.

What to do: Grab a banana, peel it and cut it into small sections, then rub the peel onto cleansed skin. Rinse your skin after 20 minutes.

For more DIY inspiration, check out how to create your own mood-boosting candle.